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[[Image:Ii_mon.jpg|left|thumb|The Ii kamon.]]

[[Image:Ii_mon.jpg|left|thumb|The Ii kamon.]]

The Ii were originally from [[Totomi province|Tôtômi Province]] and claimed descent from [[Fujiwara Yoshikado]] (ca.[[850]]). During the early Sengoku period they fought with the [[Imagawa clan|Imagawa]] in cooperation with [[Shiba Yoshisato]] but later became Imagawa vassals. The Ii became powerful under [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] thanks to [[Ii Naomasa]], one of the Ieyasu's four most famous generals.

The Ii were originally from [[Totomi province|Tôtômi Province]] and claimed descent from the son of the sixth descendent of [[Fujiwara Fuyutsugu]] (775-826), [[Fujiwara Tomoyasu]], who lived in the Ii Valley (Iinoya, 井伊谷). They supported the Southern Court during the [[Nambokucho Period]], and subsequently lost much of their holdings and authority to the [[Imagawa clan]]. During the early Sengoku period they fought with the Imagawa in cooperation with [[Shiba Yoshisato]] but later became Imagawa vassals. After the Imagawa defeats by the [[Oda clan|Oda]], however, they helped destroy the Imagawa and attempted to reclaim their prominence.  The Ii became powerful under [[Tokugawa Ieyasu]] thanks to [[Ii Naomasa]], one of the Ieyasu's four most famous generals.

The Ii remained politically important throughout the [[Edo Period]], culminating with [[Ii Naosuke]] and his [[Ansei Purge]] and assassination in [[1859]].  

The Ii remained politically important throughout the [[Edo Period]], culminating with [[Ii Naosuke]] and his [[Ansei Purge]] and assassination in [[1859]] in front of the Suzaku gate.

==References==

==References==